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Xiao Tian subconsciously reached out and patted Xiao Wu's bunny ears, giving them a soft squeeze as he said teasingly, "Worried about me? I was only gone for a day."
Xiao Wu, flustered, smacked his hand away and said with a defiant pout, "Who said that? I wasn't worried about you! I wanted to challenge you to a match. I've already gotten my first spirit ring."
Xiao Wu quickly tried to change the subject, though she was also telling the truth. Now that her strength had improved, she was eager for a chance to fight Xiao Tian again.
Xiao Tian didn't expose her and simply smiled calmly. "Of course, we can."
After condensing her first spirit ring, Xiao Wu would be at rank twelve at most, right? His own first spirit ring was from a thousand-year Jade Silkworm, which had given him a full four-rank increase in spirit power!
Still, he asked first, "Hasn't Tang San returned yet?"
[Warning! The God of Slaughter, Tang Hao...]
The moment the words left Xiao Tian's mouth, he received a notification from the system.
In the next instant, Tang San pushed open the door and entered, a confident smile on his face. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Xiao Wu standing next to Xiao Tian with red-rimmed eyes, while Wang Sheng and the others stood by, not daring to speak. His smile instantly froze.
What happened to Xiao Wu?
"Xiao Tian, do you dare to have another match with me? This time, we'll go outside!"
Xiao Tian: ???
'Seriously, dude? Are you completely insane? You want to fight me the second you get back? Who gave you the courage? Fish Leong? If Tang Hao wasn't watching from the shadows, I'd beat you so badly your own parents wouldn't recognize you!'
[Ding! Warning! The God King Tang San has issued a battle invitation to the weakling Host! The Host is advised to have some self-awareness and surrender immediately! Otherwise, don't be surprised when he turns you to dust!]
Xiao Tian had already grown accustomed to the system's daily fits of madness. The system told him to surrender, so naturally, he had to do the exact opposite!
"Alright, I accept!" Xiao Tian said, a slight curve forming on his lips. For some reason, Tang San felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
'An illusion! It must be an illusion! Under my teacher's guidance, I absorbed a four-hundred-year Man-Faced Demon Spider, infinitely close to the absolute limit for a first spirit ring. Xiao Tian is at rank seven at best right now. How could he possibly fight me?'
Xiao Tian: 'Oh? So you're bullying someone weaker than you, and you think you're in the right?'
Soon, the group was following behind Xiao Tian and Tang San, heading to an open field within the academy—the very same place where the work-study students often clashed with the nobles.
Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng, and the others all felt like they had forgotten something important.
The news that Xiao Tian and Tang San were going to fight was quickly spread by the spies Xiao Chenyu had placed nearby. Before long, a large crowd had gathered, led by Xiao Chenyu and the other noble students.
Wang Sheng frowned at him. "Xiao Chenyu, you've brought quite a crowd today. Are you here to look for trouble?"
Acting completely out of character, Xiao Chenyu replied, "No, no, no. I was just bored and came to watch you all spar." He looked with great interest at the two figures facing each other, Xiao Tian and Tang San. He had already found out that Xiao Wu had obtained her first spirit ring. Now that Tang San was back, he must have gotten his as well. This was a perfect opportunity to see Tang San's true strength. He simply didn't believe that Xiao Tian, who had no spirit ring, could possibly be a match for Tang San, even if Tang San's Spirit was just Blue Silver Grass!
Xiao Tian's brow furrowed slightly as he saw the crowd growing larger. He really disliked the feeling of being watched; it made him feel like a monkey in a circus.
Xiao Tian's sharp gaze met Xiao Chenyu's. The noble boy was so intimidated that he subconsciously took a few steps back, a deep sense of fear rising in his heart!
Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong! Had he gotten the script wrong? Why would Xiao Tian, whose spirit power rank was lower than his, fill him with such dread? He had a feeling that he had seriously misjudged the situation this time. Tang San... might not actually be able to win!
On the field.
Tang San was calm and composed, stating with great confidence, "Tang San. Spirit: Blue Silver Grass. Rank twelve, control-type Battle Spirit Master."
Xiao Tian merely stated two words coolly.
"Xiao Tian."
Tang San wasn't too bothered by Xiao Tian's cold attitude; he just assumed the boy was embarrassed by his low rank.
It was only then that it finally dawned on Xiao Wu. She looked at Xiao Tian with an angry expression, realizing she had been led astray by him! He still hadn't explained why he had disappeared for an entire day by himself.
But now was not the time for that. Xiao Wu looked at him with concern and said, "Xiao Tian, how about... you let me fight Tang San? After all, you just got back, you need to rest. And besides..."
She left the rest unsaid, knowing he would understand. Xiao Wu knew that Xiao Tian's innate talent wasn't high, but she had no intention of mocking him for it. On the contrary, she knew that if he was given enough time, he would definitely become a very powerful Spirit Master in the future.
Tang San stared at Xiao Wu in shock, his expression becoming difficult to control. 'Wait, a big part of the reason I challenged Xiao Tian was because of you! What is the meaning of this?'
Xiao Tian couldn't help but smile as he met Tang San's gaze.
"What are you smiling at!"
From Tang San's perspective, Xiao Tian's smile was clearly one of mockery.
"Oh, nothing. I just thought of a really funny joke." Xiao Tian immediately wiped the expression from his face.
What he had actually thought of was the great simp emperor, Fèi Yángyáng (Boiling Sheep) from the cartoon Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. Xiao Wu's words just now were quite similar to the character Měi Yángyáng (Beauty Sheep). 'Oh, Fèi Yángyáng, what are you doing! You're not allowed to talk about Xǐ Yángyáng (Pleasant Goat) like that!' or 'Xǐ Yángyáng is out of energy, Fèi Yángyáng, quickly help push from behind!' and so on...
The next moment, Sword Fifteen appeared in Xiao Tian's right hand. He looked at Tang San with extreme arrogance and said, "Tang San, I'll let you have the first move."
The crowd: "..."
Tang San: "..."
'Seriously, dude! Can't you see the situation you're in?'
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, felt that after being gone for a day, Xiao Tian had become much more arrogant. But she didn't find it unpleasant. In fact, she felt a strange little flutter in her heart.
Seeing Xiao Tian acting so nonchalant, Tang San felt he had been deeply insulted!
Tang San fell silent.
Tang San saw red.
Tang San attacked!
"First Spirit Ability, Blue Silver Grass, Bind!"
'Xiao Tian, you will pay the price for your arrogance!'
'Holy crap! He opens with the mother-binding technique!'
Boom!
The moment the battle began, Xiao Tian's entire demeanor became silent and focused. His aura shifted dramatically as a powerful Sword Intent erupted from his body!
"Be careful!" Xiao Wu couldn't help but cry out.
Tang San could already picture the scene of Xiao Tian being ensnared by his Blue Silver Grass. After absorbing its first spirit ring, his grass had even evolved to grow barbs that carried a paralyzing toxin. While it might not be effective against high-level Spirit Masters, against Xiao Tian, whose spirit power was lower than his, a single touch would leave him completely numb!
Just as everyone thought Xiao Tian was about to be caught, something completely unexpected happened...
(End of this chapter)